Knitting Olympics 2010

I wavered for a long time before taking up the Knitting Olympics Challenge. I did not know what to knit since the Olympics are all about a challenge, about pushing the limits a bit and this was difficult decision, because I would have loved to knit something very simple to be able to actually watch some of the games. First I thought that I would skip this Madness (right now it is beginning to feel like that a bit)altogether but then really wanted to be part of the event. I am not sure if I am able to do what I planned but I will try to design and knit four pairs of hand wear during these weeks. In the first day of the games, I created four empty project pages in Ravelry and named them as Olympics Challenge I II III and IV.
I plunged into the first project just grabbing small needles and casting on for simple gloves. I did not have a very good idea what I was to do when the knitting was done but I could not waste too much time thinking and planning.

This pair is very much like the previously made embroidered mittens so the first round went fairly quickly. No big mishaps, not very much to talk about. Enjoyed the embroidery a lot and made a mental note about doing more in the future, since I really feel it is my medium.
I used Kureyon Sock Yarn and small needles, 1,75 mm (US00) because I wanted to create dense fabric for the embroidery.

I have blocked these but they look very uneven, probably because of the small needles and the small gauge does not give enough room for the chunky bits in the yarn and those bits pucker. I like the home made feeling they have and the puckering does not bother me. (If they appear to be little too big, that is intentional, as if the gloves are too fitting, they are also too cold.)

I have cast on for number two challenge and have almost done the first mitten. These are really slow going and feel more like a challenge. I had lots of trouble before I really got going and now I am little bit worried of making four pairs... but I am not giving up. Actually, I think I really got the spirit and I am enjoying! (I have minor injury, small callus in the right hand in ring finger.)

Today when I came home, I felt sorry for this creature, as he was comfortably settled in a sunny spot on the little road and I had to make him to get up...

He run slowly in front of the car for few meters before decided to jump off the road into the woods. High pressure has been over us which means clear sky and cold temperature, I believe last night it was over -30 C. But the sun and light are back up here! Which is really great!
Ok, back to challenge number II!


Wool with you,
Lene